Spark meter



NOV. 30, 1937. 1 E. COFFEY 2,100,837

SPARK METER Filed Oct, 22, 1931 2 Shee'ts--Sheel l l @5? FT 85 /i V F752 40 z g /54 l /7 62.

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l 1 29 nas i 36 fam/5@ Patented Nov. 30, 1937 ori-ICEl SPARK METER y Irven E. Colfey, Playa del Rey, Calif. Application October 22, 1931, Serial No. 570,447

12 Claims.

I designate my invention as a spark meter as I utilize the heat generated in an electric arc in making electrical tests. f

An object and feature of my invention is an instrument which may in its result be used to test the eiliciency of the ignition spark at the spark plug of an internal combustion engine. In its broader aspect, however, an object and feature of my invention and lnstruxnent is a mechanism for test-ing the transformer or socalled coil for developing the high tension current used in the spark plugs, also the condenser utilized in connection with the circuit to the spark plugs. With such an instrument I may 15 obtain readings with the engine not running but drawing power from the battery indicating the general condition of the transformer coil and the condenser relative to what would be considered good output for these parts of the ignition system.

Another object and feature of my invention relates to the instrument in its use with the engine running and thereby determining the eficiency of the ignition system including the transformer, the condenser, and the spark plugs.

My instrument is designed so that a variety of .connections may be made whereby individual spark plugs may be tested to ascertain if they are working to their best efliciency in giving a hot spark. r

Another feature dealing withthe mechanical construction of my invention is a meter which will indicate the relative temperatures o f the spark or sparks in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine in which a test may be made with the spark plugs out of the circuit showing a temperature developed with the cur-A rent passing through the transformer coil and the condenser of the engine or, if desired, through a standard condenser by which comparisons can be made between the conditions with the standard condenser and that of the ignition system.

A further object and feature of my invention in a meter of this type is operating the meter due to changes of temperature of sparks generated in the instrument, such sparks being in the ignition circuit of the engine whereby the heating sparks in the instrument give an indication of the type of spark in the ignition system of the engine. To obtain this I arrange the recording element of the instrument, which is usually a pointer, operatively connected to thermostatic strips or coils, which strips or coils are heated by sparks developed in the circuit of the ignition system. Hence, when the ignition system has a poor spark the temperature developed by the spark in the instrument will be low and the indication will show a poor result. However, if the spark in the instrumentl is of a high temperature the pointer moving up the scale will indicate that the spark in the ignition system is in good condition and developing a high temperature to give satisfactory ignition to the fuel.

My invention, as to the thermostatic strip, the

temperature indicator operated thereby, and the spark electrodes, constitutes a direct reading ammeter, in that it translates into heat the electric spark between a spark electrode and the adjacent strip and sucli strip reacts to a change of temperature. The spark is a direct factor of v oltage and current, that is, amperage.

Another detail object and feature of my invention is forming a compensation for changes of atmospheric temperature so thatno. matter what these changes may be within practical limits, the pointer will always record zero when the instrument is not in use.

An important feature of my invention is that the thermostatic strips compensate one another for atmospheric and internal temperatures developed when there is no arc between an exterior spark point and one of the lstrips so'that the pointer normally would indicate zero. Manifestly, when the device has been in use for some time and the thermostatic strips are enclosed in a case, the interior of this case becomes heated. But even under these conditions the pointer will indicate zero; but when the spark is actually jumping between the exterior spark point and one of the strips the temperature of this latter strip is materially increased, thus causing a movement of the pointer.

Another important feature of my invention is that the deflection of the thermostatic strips is caused but little by the current passing through the strips but practically entirely by the heat of the spark jumping to the adjacent strip. .By the use of my spark meter a person may ascertain whether or not the current is flowing in the proper or best direction through the spark plugs of the engine. This is indicated by the pointer moving about the ,scale and also by the sharp point of the sparks on the thermostatic strips where they jump from the spark electrodes.

My instrument is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. face or plan view of a general instru- Lns Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a reverse view taken on the section line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an electrical wiring diagram; showing the amature and breaker points in their extreme left hand position.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a simplified type of instrument taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 6. ,Y

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic vertical section as if taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows on a larger scale. Referring rst to the wiring diagram of Fig. 4. This illustrates the battery I I of the ignition system having one side connected to -ground I2, a main switch i3, a transformer coil I4 having a primary winding i5, there being a connection I6 from the primary of the coil tothe switch I3. The primary of the coil of the transformer also has a lead I1 which connects to the timing assembly I8 of the ignition system, this timing assembly being shown as having a breaker arm i9 with adjustable contact points 2B and a rotatabletimer cam 2| for opening and closing the contact points 20. A condenser 22 leads to another ground connection 23.

My instrument is provided with a battery terminal 23 and a lead 25, which may connect to the main battery switch i 3. From the battery terminal there is a lead 26 to a make and break vibrator 21 used to generate the high tension current in the instrument as shown. This lead 25 has a terminal 28 connecting' to one resilient arm 29 of the interrupter points 3B, one being on the resilient arm 29 and the other on the resilient arm 3i. From the arm 3| there is a lead 32 which connects to the magnetic coil 33 which is energized to vibrate the armature 34. Another lead 35 extends from the coil 33 through a resistance 36 and a lead 31 and another lead 38 to an instrument set switch 39 and from such switch there is a lead 40 to terminal 55, to which may be connected another ground connection 4I.

At the end of the coil opposite to members 29, 36, and 3| are corresponding members 46, 41, and 48. The resilient arms 48 and 3| are biased toward each other, whereby the armature while at rest is held in mid position between them. The armature 34 is loosely mounted in the coil 33 and is formed of magnetic metal with insulation at each end, the insulation at the right-hand end with respect to Figure 4 being substantially thicker than that at the other end whereby the normal position of the metal portion of the armature, when' the parts are at rest, will be unbalanced with respect to the coil 33 so that when the current is turned on, the amature 34 will be drawn into the coil, permitting inwardly biased resilient arm 3| to separate the contact points 38. Under the influence of the coil and the resilience .of the members 3| and 48, which are weighted at the ends, the armature vibrates in the coil from one side to the other. 'I'he right-hand end of the armature acts against the arm 48. When the circuit through the coil 33 is closed, the movement of the armature to the right (still with respect to Figure 4) permits the member 3| to move suiciently to separate the contacts 30 thus breaking the circuit through the coil 33. After the circuit ment as taken in the direction of the arrow I of' is broken, the reaction of the resilient arm 48 moves the parts back to the position shown in Figure 4, thus opening contacts 41 and reclosing the circuit through contacts 38 and coil 33.

A second connection is made from the primary of the coil through a lead 42 to a terminal post 43. A lead 44 from terminal post 43 then connects at 45 tothe arm 46 and the interrupter points 4,1, one being on the arm 46 and the other n the arm 48. A lead 49 extends from the arm 48 to the leads 31 and 38. The various arms are separated from each other and from the vibrator mounting by insulation 50. l

Theinstrument has a condenser I which is carefully standardized and should be of substantially the capacity of the condenser used in the ignition circuit of the sual internal combustion engine. Condenser 5I and a switch 53 are bridged across terminal 55 and terminal 54, the latter connected to arm d6 by lead 52. When switch 53 is opened to cut condenser 5I out of circuit, the engine ignition condenser may be tested by bridging it across terminals 55-54 in place of condenser 5I, as indicated in dotted lines at 56.

The instrument box or case is provided with three terminals 51, 58 and 59. There is a high tension lead 68 from the secondary SI of the transformer to' the terminal 59 and from this there is a exible lead 62 to a iixed spark electrode 63. A second fixed spark electrode 64 is connected by a iiexible lead 65 to a terminal 66. A second terminal 61 has a flexible lead 68 to the terminal 51. A ground connection 39 leads from the terminal 53 to ground at 16. A spark gap 12 is inserted between terminals 51 and 58. For reversing the direction of secondary current through the device, connection S0 is shifted from 53 to 51, and gap 12 from terminals 51--58 to terminals 59-58, as indicated by dotted lines 1I and 13, respectively. This removable and insertable spark gap is used as a substitutefor thespark plugs when a test is being made without such plugs being operable The heating elements comprise first thermostatic strips 14 and 15, which are connected to secondary thermostatic strips 16 and 11. The latter strips are rigidly connected to terminals 66 and 61. The two strips are rigidly connected together by a suitable connection 18 and are formed of thermostatic metal arranged to expand in opposite directions in order to compensate for changes in temperature, these being made of such a character so that under changes of atmospheric! temperature within a range in which the instrument might be used, the pointer of the instrument hereinunder detailed will remain at zero.

The strips 14 and 15 are somade and curved that they are for practical purposes concentric to the sparking electrodes 64 and 63. Rigidly connected to the ends of each of the thermostatic strips 14 and 15 there is a clamping block 19, to which clamping blocks there are rigidly connected the opposite ends of a looped spring 80. This looped spring is preferably formed of flat metal with the two ends working freely over each other, and to the loop there is attached a pointer or hand 8|, this being the indicating hand of the instrument.

'I'lie loop 80 connected to the thermostatic strips 14 and 15 operates to magnify the relative movement of these strips. For instance, the ends of the strips have a certain-movement communicated thereto by the expansion and contraction of such strips, and the end of the pointer 8| attached to the loop has a rotating movement relative to the center of such loop and this gives an indication amplifying many times the actual movement of the ends of the thermostatic strips.

Manifestly, the electrical connections .which I have illustrated and the switches may be utilized in a convenient installation in any suitable manner. However, I have designed a relatively simple and attractive case designated generally by the numeral 82 containing the various electrical connections of the instrument with suitable terminals for connection to the electrical parts of the engine. This case has a bottom 83 with sides 84 with corner struts 85. A top panel 86 is provided with an arcuate opening 81, there being, preferably, a glass plate 88 below the panel and the openings and below the opening 81 there is a scale 89 mounted on supports 90 from a lower panel 9|. This latter panel rests on the posts 85. The scale has graduations 92 having numerals opposite these graduations, and also has sections 93 with the Words Poor, Fair, Good, and Extra good. There are also three sections 94, 95, 96 of different colors, preferably red, green, and blue, respectively. The pointer 8| swings over this scale in operation of the instrument. The upper panel has two small openings 91, these openings being directly over the interrupter points 39 and 41, there being, preferably, some corrugated glass 98 supported from clamps 99 on the lower panel so that the spark from these points will be diffused when observed through the windows 91. A large opening |09 exposes the thermostatic strips, the spark points 63 and 64; therefore, the sparks jumping between these points and the smaller thermostatic strips 14 and may be visible through the window Illll. The various switches and terminals designated in Fig. 4 are shown on Figs. 1 and 3, these being suitably designed for'detachably connecting various lead wires to the terminals.

In order tosecure the top panel 86 and the lower panel 9| together; there are a series of spacing blocks IUI with bolts |02 passing therethrough. Certain of these bolts function as the terminals 51, 58 and 59.

The spark gap 12 is illustrated as having an insulating body ID3 with the two spark points |04 mounted therein and clamps |05 to engage the terminals 51, 58 or 59. 'Ihis spark gap 12 is designed to absorb in the spark substantially as much electrical energy as in the spark plugs of the engine for igniting the gas and, therefore, is intended to be substantially the equivalent of the set of spark plugs of a standard engine. By shifting gap 12 from terminals 51 and 58 to terminals 59 and 58, and shifting connection 60 from terminal 59 to terminal 51, the current direction may be tested. When the spark is jumping in the correct direction a greater` amount of heat is developed at the thermostatic strip and the pointer 8| gives a high reading. Also, the cor rect direction may be observed by noting the spark between the electrodes 63 and 64 and the thermostatic strips 15 and`14 adjacent thereto. The spark should be from the electrode to the strip and indicates on the strip by a bright spot of light on such strip. Should the spark jump in the wrong direction, the r'greatest amount of heat will be developed at the center sparking point, which is not thermostatic, and the pointer 8| will show a much lower reading. It is necessary to use flexible leads 62 and 65 to the electrodes 63 and 64 as these are mounted on insulating bases |04' rigidly connected to the clamping blocks 19. There is, therefore, a' slight movement of these clamping blocks and the support for the electrodes as the thermostatic strips expand and contract and, hence, as the spring loop and pointer move, but the electrodes are always near the center of the thermostatic strips 14 and 15,

Referring again to the illustration of Fig. 4, all

of the electrical connections shown below the terminals 24 to 43, 51, 58, 59, 54, 55, may be considered as pertaining to the electrical equipment of the engine andlead Wires used therefrom to my instrument.

Presuming it is desired to make a test of the ignition system of the engine with the engine stopped and no current passing through the spark plugs, the timer cam 2| may be operated to open the contact points 20, or these may be mechanically opened and insulated as by inserting a sheet of insulation. A connection is then made from the battery. 'I'his may be from one side ofthe engine switch I3 to the battery terminal 24, such being indicated by the lead 25. A grounding connection is then made, from the ground terminal 55 to the ground 4|, this being any part of the enginaframe.

The instrument set switch 39 is then closed. The action then is as follows:

'I'he low tension battery current through the leads 25 and 26 and the interrupter points 30, normally closed, energizes the magnetic interrupter coil 33, causing the winding of this to be energized to actuate the vibrating armature 34. The current of this circuit has a return to ground through the lead 31 and-38, -set switch 39 and 40 to the ground 4I. The` low tension current through the primary I5 of the transformer coil I4 of the engine has a circuit through the lead 42, the primary terminal 43, lead 44, connections 45 and 46, to the interrupter points 41 which are normally closed, for energizing the transformer of the car. The return to ground is through the arm 48, the leads 49, 38, and 40 to the ground 4I. 'I'his is presuming that the condenser switch 53 is open to make a test of a condenser at 56. The interrupter 41 thus causes an energizing cf the secondary 6I of the transformer coil of the engine, giving a circuit through the high tension lead 60, the flexible lead 62, through the electrode 63, the thermostatic strips 15 and 11, exible lead 65, to the electrode 64, thence, the thermostatic strips 14 and 16, the lead 68 to the terminal 51 and thence by the spark gap 12 to the terminal 58 and by the connection 69 to the ground 18. This, therefore, gives what may be termed an artificial spark circuit and in View of the heat generated by the sparks between the electrodes 63 and 64 and the adjacent thermostatic strips 15 and 14 causes a exing of such strips and, hence, of the spring 80 and the movement of the arm 8|. By this means a test may be made of the eiciency of the transformer coil of the engine.

With the engine still not operating and the timer contacts open, test of a condenser 56 may be made by means of the windows 91 in the top i lpanel 86.

'I'he sparks are diffused by corrugated glasses 98 into streaks of light, allowing ready interpretation of the eiiiciency of condenser 56 in suppressing the spark at interrupter contacts 41. The spark at each of these points 3|) ari 41 is observed through windows 31. When the condenser under test is normal, these will appear to the eye the same color and intensity through both windows. On account of the sparks being diffused by the corrugated glass 98, the sparks have an elongated appearance. If the condenser under test is weak or bad, the sparks at 41 will increase in brilllancy. Under this latter condition of a weak test condenser, the reading on scale 92 will be less than with a standard condenser.

When it is desired to test the ignition set of the engine with the engine operating, the external lead 25 is removed from the battery terminal 24, the lead 42 may be left connected to the primary terminal 43 so that the standardized condenser 5| may be thrown in and out of the circuit as desired. The spark gap 12 is removed. The secondary 6| of the transformer coil I4 is connected to a terminal 59, and a lead connection is made from the terminal 51 to the center point |06 of the distributor |01 of the engine, lwhichdistributor is indicated as having contacts |08 with leads to the spark plugs |09. The electrical action is then as follows:

The current from the batteryvis indicated as passing through the primary I 5 of the transformer coil I4 through the low tension lead I'i to the timer I8. The make and breakA of the primary circuit by the timer causes the secondary El to send high voltage current through the terminal 5S, the flexible lead 62, the electrode 63, the thermostatic strips 'H5 and '|1, the ilexible lead S5, the electrode 64, the thermostatic strips 14 and 16, the connection 68 to the terminal 51, and from thence to the distributor, the spark plugs in the engine and ground. -The heat developed by the sparks at the electrodes 63 and 64 actuates the pointer 8|, and a comparison of readings may be obtained with the engine running under its own ignition and in a case in which the engine is not running. With this con-- nection, also, the condenser 5I may be placedin the circuit by closing the condenser switch 53 or, if desired, this switch may be opened and a condenser for test may be installed between the terminals 54 and 55. In these two latter tests it is advisable to disconnect the condenser 22 of the engine.

'I'he spark from the spark plug in the engine is hotter when this spark jumps from the point of the spark plug to the metal of the engine. This is due in great part to the capacity effect of the metal parts of the car, which form a ground. This is a matter well known in connection with automobile engineering. 'Ihe connections from the secondary 6| of the transformer coil I4 may be reversed to note the different results of operating the current in diilerent directions through the spark plugs. v

When the device of Figs. 1 through 4 is used to test the single spark plugs oi the engine with the engine operating, the connection to the interrupters is not used and the spark plug to be tested is placed in the circuit with terminals 51 and 59. This may be done by taking a lead from the spark plug connection on the distributor to the terminal 59 and from the terminal 51 to the spark plug. This will give the current through the sparkplug in the correct direction provided the transformer coil of the ignition circuit is properly connected in the ignition circuit.

In the simplified instrument of Figs. 5 and 6 I show a suitable case H0 having an insulating support HI at the bottom, from which there is amasar supported a vertical sparking electrode H2.' This sparking electrode is surrounded by a first thermostatic ooil strip H3, such strip having a D081: I4 mounted on the insulating base I I5. A second thermostatlc'coil H6 is connected tothe first coil by 'a strip H1. A pointer arm H8 is connected to the second coil and operates over a scale I I 9. 'This scale may have the various graduations H9 similar to the instrument of Fig. 1. The thermostatic coils H3 and H6 are made with the thermostatic metal operating diierentially soas to compensate for changes inthe atmospheric temperature within ordinary limits and thus under normal conditions hold the pointer H8 at the zero position of the scale.

'Ihere are three terminals |20, |2|, and |22 connected to the instrument, to which portable leads may be attached. An internal connection |23 leads from |20 to the spark electrode, H2, a lead |24 from |2| to the post H4 of the thermostatic coils. a connection |25 from the post H4 to a spark gap device |26, and a connection |21 from this spark gap to |22.

In the operation of the device of Figs. 5 and 6, when a test is made with the engine running the high tension connection from the transformer coil to the center point of the distributor can be .removed and a connection made from the terminal |20 to the high tension side of the transformer and from |2| to the high tension center point of the distributor. Then when the engine is operated under its own power a spark jumps between the spark electrode H2 and the encircling thermostatic coil H3, heating this coil which is designed to actuate the pointer H8 through the medium of coil H6. If the coils H3 and H6 are at the same temperature, the pointer will always point to zero on the scale. 'I'hus this pointer always points at zero when iniluenced only by atmospheric temperatures and temperatures developed adjacent the case which heat both coils, such as the increased temperature in the case and container confining the coils H3 and H6.

However, if coil H3 is heated by the arc to a higher temperature than coil H6, then the pointer will move to the right across the scale in proportion to the difference in temperature of coils H3 and H6. This gives a test of the whole ignition system of the engine, including the transformer, condenser and spark plugs.

When itis desired to test a transformer coil for its emciency without operating the engine, a connection may be made from the terminal |20 to the secondary of the transformer and from the terminal |22 to ground. The points of the timer may then be rapidly opened and closed or the primary circuit of the transformer broken in any suitable manner such as by power driven interrupters used by repair shops for this purpose in order to give a high tension current in the secondary. The circuit then includes the connection |23 to the electrode H2, thence to the thermo- 1. 'I'he combination of a pair of spark electrodes, a thermostatic strip positioned adjacent each electrode, a loop spring connected to these strips and having a pointer thereon, and a high tension electric circuit through the strips and the two electrodes to establish sparks between the iii electrodes and the adjacent strips, the change of temperature of the strips causing a movement of the spring and hence of the pointer.

2. In a device as described, an instrument having a pair of interrupters for low tension current, a battery terminal, and a terminal for a transformer primary, a connection from the battery terminal to one interrupter, and a connection from the primary terminal to the other interrupter, a ground terminal, and a common connection through a switch to the ground terminal, a sparking electrode, a thermostatic strip adjacent thereto, a pointer operatively connected to the strip, a plurality of high tension terminals with connections from at least two of said terminals to the strip and to the sparking electrode, an opening with a window to observe the sparks` of the interrupters, and another opening to observe the spark between the spark electrode and the thermostatic strip.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 2, the instrument having an additional terminal for connection 0; a condenser between such terminal andn the ground terminal, and a condenser in the low tension circuit with avswitch.

4. In a device as'described, an instrument having a case with a top panel, a plurality of terminals thereon, one being for a battery connection, another for a primary on a transformer coil, a third for connection to ground, a fourth for bridging' a condenser between such fourth terminal and the ground, and a fifth, sixth, and seventh for high .tension currents, a first switch for a'low d tension circuit connecting to ground, and a second switch in the low tension circuit with a condenser in such circuit, the condenser being below the panel, a vibrator coil with a pair of interrupter points, and connections from the battery terminal to one of the interrupter points and to the coil, another connection from the primary terminal to the other interrupter, and a common connection from the coil through the rst switch to the ground terminal, a sparking electrode located below the panel, a thermostatic strip adjacent thereto, a pointer operatively connected to the strip, and'connections from at least two of the high tension terminals tokthe strip and to the sparking electrode, the panel having observation `Windows to observe the sparks at the interrupter points and between the sparkingelectrode and the thermostatic strip.

5. In a device as described, an instrument having av spark electrode', a rst coil or thermostatic strip metal surrounding said electrode, a second coil of thermostatic strip metal connected thereto,said coils being in a reverse direction to compensate for atmospheric temperatures, a pointer connectedto the second coil and operative over a scale, and terminals for connecting the spark electrode and the first coil.

6. In a device as described, an instrument hav-l ing a solenoid coil, a moving amature therefor, a pair of spring arms actuated by the amature, a pair of conducting arms, a make-and-break spark gap device between each conducting arm and' each spring arm, and a glass having light diffusing /properties positioned over each spark gap device.

7. The combination of a pair of spark electrodes, a first thermostatic strip positioned adjacent each electrode, a loop spring connected to these strips'and having means to indicate a temperature change, circuit connections to each strip and each electrode to cause a spark between each electrode and theadjacent strip, the change of temperature of the strips causing a movement of the spring and indicating a change of temperature.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, a second thermostatic strip connected to each rst thermostatic strip, the connected strips compensating for temperature changes of the medium surroundingthe strips.

9. In a device as described, an instrument having a spark electrode, two curved members of thermostatic strip metal electrically and mechanically 'connected to produce counter-acting movements under the inuence of ambient temperatures, one of said curved members surrounding said electrode, a pointer connected to one end of the thermostatic strip assembly and operative over a scale, and -terminals for connecting the spark. electrode and the surrounding coil to a .source of high tension current.

l0.`A spark coil testing device comprising a casing, a bimetallic thermostat having one end iixed with respect to said casing and the other end free, a second bimetallic thermostat having one end attached to the free end of the rst thermostat and its other end free, a scale, a pointer connected to the free end of the second thermo- 'stat and cooperating with said scale, said thermostats being oppositely connected and arranged to eliminate variations in the position of said pointer due to variations in ambient temperature, an electric terminal connected to the iirst of said thermostats, and an electrode mounted adjacent one of said thermostats in such relation as to form a spark gap between the thermostat and said electrode.

11. A test set comprising a heat responsive device shaped in the arc of a circle, a pointer connected thereto, an` electrode centrally mounted within and closely adjacent to said heat responsive device, saidheat responsive device being of the bimetallic type, whereby said sparks may jump with equal facility between said electrode and dierent parts of the thermostatic device.

l2. A test set comprising a heat responsive device shaped in the arc of a circle, a pointer connected thereto, an electrode centrally mounted within and closely adjacent to said'heat responsive device,-said heat, responsive device being of the bimetallic type, whereby said sparks may jump with equal facility between said electrode and different parts of the thermostatic device, said parts being constructed and arranged to permit convenient visibility of thespark gap to the operator.

` IRVEN E. COFFEY. 

